Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director of Children’s Social Care and Education

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Social Care and Education on progress made against the Children’s Improvement Plan (the Plan). The report set out progress and priorities for the next quarter. A copy of the Improvement Plan was attached at Appendix A.

Members of the Committee asked questions/raised matters on the following issues:

·       a concern was raised about the red and orange RAG ratings particularly in respect of partner agencies providing active support where required to the achievement of the Improvement Plan; and assurance was sought that arrangements would be put in place to improve such matters as soon as possible

·       a concern was expressed that delays appeared to be in areas where the Council relied on external partners

·       improvements to the recruitment of staff

·       the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on the provision of support packages identified in the Plan   

·       monitoring of Personal Education Plans

·       social worker retention issues once qualified via the Social Work Academy and a request for statistics in relation to this matter

·       the ability for front line practitioners to take part in the Social Work Academy

·       the numbers of newly qualified social workers who had graduated from local universities

·       potential to recruit social workers via COMPASS job fairs

·       the proportion of agency social workers employed, and potential problems caused by clients having to repeat issues associated with their cases due to a turnover of agency staff

RESOLVED: That